Justina Blakeney’s Tips for Creating a Layered Bedding Look

The greatest testament to America’s desire for beautifully mixed bedding is also its downfall: the bed-in-a-bag, that one-size-fits-all attempt at a perfect combination sold by your local big-box store. But a truly well-curated bed can’t come from a package deal; it’s the result of thoughtful experimentation and a solid understanding of textiles, colors, and scale. We tapped Justina Blakeney, the designer, artist, and self-proclaimed maximalist behind the blog The Jungalow and the best-selling book The New Bohemians, to walk us through her steps to getting it just right. “Your bedroom should make you feel how you want to feel—whether that’s sexy, funny, cheeky, or calm,” she tells AD. “And your bed is the perfect moment to express it.” Here’s what you need to know to get the right mix.

Know Your Colors

“To find the balance between matchy-matchy and clashing, it’s all about choosing an overarching color palette,” says Blakeney. “For me, that means establishing dominant and accent colors—or color families. And as you choose patterns, make sure that they fit loosely within your color story. If you can look at the bed and have it read, say, green with yellow accents, or cream and dusky pink, that’s going to really tie it together, no matter how ‘patternful’ things are. Or, keep all the patterns—no matter how contrasting—in a neutral palette, and it will still go together beautifully.”

Know Your Options

“When creating your mix, don’t limit yourself to just the sheets, pillows, and coverlet—there are so many fun places to bring patterns into and around your bed. Hang fabric to create the feel of a canopy. Bring in a nightstand with a little bit of pattern, something that reads more as a flourish. Add a bedside rug with a dramatic pattern. Or bring in artwork above the bed; it’s a great way to establish an accent color that can then be woven into the bed itself. And remember that textures—from embroidery to fringe to embellishments—can serve as patterns as well.”

Know Where to Go Big

“People are often nervous about large patterns and try to reserve them for small pieces. But the truth is that large patterns work much better on large surfaces—that way, the pattern has a chance to repeat. A coverlet is a great moment to go big, bold, and graphic; I especially love suzanis here. Then you can go with smaller prints on smaller items, like a pillow, or a bit of sheet that’s popping out. These things might look like solids from far away but they add dimension and personality to the space.”

Know the Power of Repetition

“When you have a lot going on, you want to make sure it all looks intentional, thoughtful, and pulled together,” says Blakeney. “That’s where repetition is such an important tool. While yes, that can mean two pieces in the same pattern, you can also create the feeling without an exact match. Consider two pillows in the same color and style—maybe two red kilim pillows, even if they’re slightly off. When you’re out there shopping for bedding, think of it as finding sisters, not twins. It’s a really great way to start the process of pattern mixing.”

Know That It Takes Time

“Your home is not a static place—it moves, breathes, and grows with your family. So be confident in your personal style and enjoy the process of figuring things out. That means trying things out for a couple months and being prepared to move pieces around. It also means that you aren’t going to go to the store one day and buy everything you need—the right look is going to be layered over time. I’m always looking on Etsy and eBay for vintage textiles—just dry-clean them first! Or for new pieces, Urban Outfitters has become my secret bedding source. There, you’ll find a lot of global inspiration and fun, textured trims.”

Know When To Go Solid

“As much as I’m a maximalist, I’m always very careful to have places in a room for the eye to rest. If you have an unbelievable piece in the room—like this wall hanging above the bed—you truly don’t need any distractions from that. Establishing a focal point is an incredibly important part of mixing patterns well—you want something that will draw the eye in, and enough space to let it shine.”

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